MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii – Army officials are offering several opportunities for young hunters to hone their skills over the holiday weekends.

Youths ages 10 to 15 are invited to participate in bird hunting or bow hunting of mammals, Dec. 26-27 and Jan. 2-3. Bird hunts will be offered in the Ahi unit (training areas 9, 12-16 and 18), and bow hunting will be open in the Humu’ula and Menehune units (training areas 1-6) for both weekends. Hunter must check in at the Army check station across from Mauna Kea State Park.

All youth hunters must have a valid State of Hawaii hunting license, and must be accompanied by an adult with a valid state hunting license. Adults will participate in a mentor capacity, only, and are not permitted to harvest any animals during this hunt.

Reservations are required for bow hunting, and will be accepted beginning Monday at 9 a.m. A maximum of 15 youth bow hunters will be allowed each day. Reservations are not required for bird hunting.

To make a reservation, call (808) 315-1545. Callers should have the names and hunting license numbers for each youth hunter and adult mentor, and a contact number ready when calling.

This initiative is part of the Army’s ongoing efforts to enhance its local hunting program, according to John Polhemus, manager of the U.S. Army Garrison-Pohakuloa’s public hunting program.

“There hasn’t been much focus on youth hunting in the past, but that’s something we want to change,” Polhemus said. “Our goal is to offer more opportunities for youths to apply safe hunting techniques, and experience hunting in a low-pressure, uncrowded environment.”

Regular (adult) hunting activity, here, will resume Jan. 9-10 pending availability of hunting areas.

New PTA hunter check-in stations.